DTP centres on a page layout program which is used to import texts, often created in word processing programs; charts and graphs from spreadsheets; drawings and illustrations created in CAD, drawing or paint programs and photographs edited in some kind of image manipulating programs. Its strength is in providing the structure to manipulate documents into columns or rows, and to cut and position graphics.
The program is then used to combine and arrange them all on a page. A key feature of DTP is text flow – the possibility to put text around graphic objects in a variety of ways. Other features are for example scalable fonts or kerning, which means adjusting the spaces between letters to achieve consistent spacing.
While desktop publishing software still provides extensive features necessary for print publishing, modern word processors now are comparable with many older DTP applications, blurring the line between word processing and desktop publishing.
© Střední průmyslová škola elektrotechniky a informatiky, Ostrava, příspěvková organizace